Portable drill rig



Sept. 11, 1956 J. E; FEUCHT PORTABLE DRILL RIG Filed Feb. 25, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

- JACOB E. FEUCHT ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1956 J. E. FEUCHT 2,762,609

PORTABLE DRILL RIG Filed Feb. 25, 1954 e Shets-Sheet 2 WW AVAWQVW 7 F|G.2

INVENTOR.

JACOB E. YFEUCHT ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1956 J. E. FEUCHT PORTABLE DRILL RIG 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 23, 1954 MOE . INVENTOR. JACOB E. FEUCHT ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1956 J. E. FEUCHT 2,752,609

PORTABLE DRILL RIG Filed Feb. 25, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. JACOB E. FEUCHT ATTORNEY Sept; 11, 1956 J. E. FEUCHT PORTABLE DRILL RIG 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 23, 1954 Ryan ll w T. m m

ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1956 J. E. FEUCHT 2,

. PORTABLE DRILL RIG I Filed Feb. 25, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR.

JACOB E. FEUCHT 8% ATTORNEY mesne assignments, to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 23, 1954, Serial No. 411,761

7 Claims. (Cl. 255-51) This invention relates broadly to rock drills, but more particularly to a wheel supported movable drill rig especially suitable for carrying short leg stopers used for drilling upward holes in mines of relatively low ceilings Where the head room is Well below mans height.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 393,156, filed November 19, 1953.

One object of this invention is to produce an improved portable and readily movable drill rig constructed and arranged in a manner enabling the drills carried thereby to be moved in a multiplicity of drilling positions.

Another object of this invention is to produce a portable drill rig of simple construction relatively light weight, which is strong, durable and efiicient.

Another object of this invention is to produce an improved portable drill rig consisting of a wheel carried frame having mounted thereon two alike articulated drill supporting beams, through which the drills supported thereby may be readily moved to any desired positions and may be raised or lowered relative to the face being drilled.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a rig nited States Patent with simple and efi'icient power actuated means for raising or lowering one end portion of the drill carrying beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an improved rig with simple and efi icient manually operable device through which the drill carrying beam may be anchored to the ground.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an improved rig with simple and efficient means enabling lateral adjustment of the inner end of each drill carrying beam relative to the wheel supported frame.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Figure l is a top view of the rear end portion of a wheel supported frame embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 22 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the two drill carrying beams in a retracted or folded position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6 in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line '77 in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a partial, somewhat enlarged, crosssectiona'l View taken on line 3-8 in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on line 99 in Figure 1.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 1m in Figure 1.

2,762,609 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 in Figure 10, and

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 12-12 in Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings, 20 represents the rear end portion of a base frame supported preferably by three wheels 21, two of which are shown in the drawings, the third one, not shown, being a caster wheel having fastened to its supporting yoke a handle through which the rig may readily be moved to any desired location.

Fixed to the extreme rear end of the base frame 20 and constituting a part thereof are two laterally spaced relatively heavy and strong supporting plates 22, each carrying a drill supporting articulated beam of identical construction, about to be described. Each plate 22 is provided with an arcuated slot 23 having as its center a pin 24 carried by a fixed arm 25 equally spaced from the ends of the slot and extending radially therefrom as an integral part of plate 22. As clearly shown in Figure 4, a movable arm 26 resting on plate 25 has one end pivotally connected to the outer end of arm 25 by pin 24, while its other end carries an upright shaft 27 having a collar 28 engaging the upper side of arm 26 and having depending therefrom a threaded stem 29 which extends through a spacer 30 located within slot 23. Upright shaft 27 is clamped rigidly on inner end of arm 26 by a washer 31 and nut 32, the washer engaging both the underside of arm 25 and the spacer 30, which spacer is thicker than arm 25 to provide slight clearance between the two arms and enable upright shaft 27 to swing laterally with arm 26. Plate 22 is provided with a series of locking holes 33, each adapted to receive a locking pin 34 slidably carried by upper arm 26, through which the two arm-s 25 and 26 may be locked against relative movement.

A hub member 35" is rotatably supported on upright shaft 2'7 by two end bearings 36, which are axially retained on the shaft between collar 28 and a retaining lid 37, which lid is clamped on the free end of the shaft by a nut 38 screwed on a shaft reduced end 39. The lower end of hub 35 is provided with an integral radially extending bifurcated lug 40 having pivotally connected thereto by a cross pin 41 the downwardly projecting inner end 42 of a beam first section 43, which section extends substantially perpendicularly from hub 35. This section has an outer olfset portion 44 extending parallelly therefrom but located closer to the ground as clearly shown in Figure 2. This beam section 43 can be of any desired cross section calculated to make the beam sturdy enough to sustain its intended load without distortion. As shown, its inner end portion is made of round bar stock, and its outer portion 44 of rectangular bar stock, rigidly connected to each other by a welded angle plate 45. A slotted lug 46 extending radially from the upper end of hub 35 has pivotally connected thereto by a cross pin 47 one end of an adjustable tension rod 48, while its other end is similarly connected by a cross pin 49 to a slotted lug 50 projecting radially from beam section 43. It will thus be understood that while beam section 43 is pivotally connected to the lower end of casing or hub 35, its Weight is primarily carried by the upper end of the hub through tension rod 48, the length of which is adjustable through the usual buckle 71.

Near its free end, as shown in Fig. 6, the offset portion 44 of beam section 43 carries an upright shaft 51 rigidly secured thereon by cooperating collar 52 and nut 53. Shaft 51 has two end roller bearings 54 mounted thereon between collar 52 and a lid 55, on which bearing is rotatably mounted a hub member 56. Shaft 51 has an upper reduced and threaded end 57 forming a shoulder on which is clamped lid 55 by a nut 58. The

- 3 a slottedterminal 61 carrying a cross pin 62 in which is pivotally mounted the closed end 63 of a cylinder housing 64. Each cylinder has a piston head 65 slidable therein, and a piston rod 66 extending through a cylinder upper end plate 67. Rod 66 has its free end pivotally connected by a cross pin 69 to a slotted lug 70 depending from a second beam section 72. Between the two lugs 70, beam 72 has a third slotted lug 73 also depending therefrom and having pivotally connected thereto, as shown in Fig. 8, by trunions 74, a bushing 75 accommodating the free upper end of upright shaft 51. From the foregoing, it will be understood that second beam section 72 is entirely supported by hub 56 for rotation on its center axis. It will also be understood that the cooperating cylinder and piston elements 64 and 65 constitute two jack units operable in opposite directions by controlled admission and exhaust of pressure fluid into and from their respective cylinders through conduits 76 and 77 for the left hand cylinder in Figure 6 and conduits 78 and 79 for the right hand one, which conduits lead from a throttle valve housing 80, shown in detail in Figure 7. This housing has an integral branch 81, Figure 1, extending radially from one end thereof and fixed to the inner end of beam section 72 by any suitable means. The branch has a port 82 extending therethrough and opening at one end into a small supply chamber 83 formed Within the inner end of beam section 72, and at the other end into a central passage 84 provided within a cylindrical throttle valve 85 rotatably mounted within valve housing and retained therein by a gland nut 86. Throttle .valve has an extension rod 87 extending therefrom through gland nut 86 alongside of beam section 72, where it is rotatably supported by longitudinally spaced brackets 88, and is terminated by a handle 89 located near the outer end of beam section 72. Throttle valve 85 is provided with peripherally spaced notches 90 adapted to receive a spring pressed ball or detent 91 for selectively holding the valve in desired positions, one of which is shown in Figure 7, wherein conduits 76 and 79 are connected to the valve central passage 84 through valve radial'ports 92 and 93 respectively, while the conduits 77 and 78 are connected with exhaust ports 94 and 95 through valve outlet passages 96 and 97 respectively.

Beam section 72 is preferably made from round bar stock, with a reduced inner end, and an outer end formed by a welded transversal cylindrical terminal 100, having a bore 101 (see Fig. 10) centrally therethrough with an outwardly tapered end 102. A locking member in the form of a ring 103 is fixed on the end face of terminal 100, remote from base tapered end 102, by screws 104. This ring has gear teeth 105 formed on its peripheral wall and engageable by the corresponding teeth 98 (Fig. 11) of a locking shoe 106 mounted at the end of a screw 107 for axial movement therewith. This screw is manually rotatable by a hand wheel 108 through a stationary nut 109 carried by the side wall of a lid 110, which covers and surrounds the ring 103 and has a central cylindrical step 112 piloted in the ring. A bearing member 114 is located within terminal bore 101, and has a tapered head 115 seated within the bore tapered end 102. Member 114 is provided with a flat bottom bore 116 accommodating, in the bottom portion thereof, a compression spring 117 active against a cylinder plug 118 slidable within bore 116 and retained therein by a nut 119 screwed on a bolt 120 which extends therethrough with its head engaging the outer wall of lid 110. As clearly shown in Figure 10, plug 118 projects beyond the end of tapered head 115 of bearing member 114 and has mounted thereon the upper end of a strap 121 which is locked to tapered head 115 against rotation relative thereto by a key 122. Strap 121 extends vertically downward and has its lower end fixed to a cross strap 123, and to a bracket 124, by two bolts 125. As shown in Figures 2 and 12, cross strap 123 extends horizontally inward of beam section 72 and has integrally formed thereon a tubular casing 126 extending vertically at right angles with beam section 72 and passing on side thereof as shown in Figure 1. Bracket 124 is a right angle bracket integrally fixed to the lid 110 at a place adjacent nut 109. From the foregoing, it will be understood that bearing member 114 which actually carries tubular casing 126 through straps 121 and 123, is rotatable within terminal 100, its rotation being checked by the frictional engagement of its tapered head 115 within the corresponding end of bore 101, the resulting friction brake being adjustable by varying the extent of compression of spring 117 through the nut 119. It will also be understood that since lid 110 is fastened to the bearing member 115 through bracket 124 bolted to strap 121 and key 122, the lid is rotatable with the bearing member and consequently with the tubular casing 126. Since the lid 110 carries the locking shoe 106, it also becomes part of the locking device through which tubular casing 126 may be locked against movement relative to beam terminal 100.

In addition to supporting the drilling apparatus about to be described, tubular casing 126 also constitutes part I of an anchoring mechanism which includes a relatively long sleeve or tube 127 slidably fitted within casing 126 and capable of being entirely retracted therein, except for its lower collared end 128 as shown in Figure 9. This tube has rack teeth 129 formed thereon engageable by a pinion 130 fixed on a shaft 113 by a key 99, and rotatable by a handle 131 for effecting axial adjustment of tube 127 relative to casing 126. An anchoring peg 132 is further axially adjustable with tube 127 by means of longitudinally spaced annular grooves 133 provided therein and adapted to receive a cross pin 134 removably slidable through the collared end 128.

A relatively heavy and rigid foot piece 135 is preferably welded to the lower end of casing 126 and extends radially therefrom as shown in Figure 2. Its outer end has rigidly fixed thereon an upright feed piston, not shown, operatively fitted within a feed cylinder 136 normally resting on the foot piece 135. This feed cylinder, which is free to rotate on its center axis, has fixed thereto by cross straps 137, a fluid actuated stoper or rock drill 138 which extends parallelly alongside thereof. This rock drill is provided with the usual connection 139 through which pressure fluid may be supplied from beam section supply chamber 83 through conduit 140, and from connection 139 to the feed mechanism 136 through a port provided within the lower strap 137.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the drilling apparatus, including feed cylinder 136 and rock drill 138, is pivotable on four vertical axes indicated by lines AA, BB, CFC and D-D in Figure 2, and horizontally on the center axis of the beam terminal 100, thereby enabling the drilling apparatus to be swung, while being supported off the ground, to a multitude of drilling positions.

An important feature of this invention is the connecting mechanism between the inner end of the beam first section 43 and the wheel supported frame 20, through which the entire drill supporting beam can be moved laterally relative to the base frame 20. As shown in detail in Figure 4, upon removal of the locking pin 34, the entire hub 35, and consequently the adjacent end of the beam section 43 carried thereby, can be swung on pivot 24 within the length of the arcuated track 23. In such instance, the hub 35 to which is connected the beam first section 43, is actually carried by the swivelling arm 26, and little effort is needed to swing the hub to the desired position. This feature is especially desirable when operating in relative narrow quarters, wherein swinging of the beam section on the upright shaft 27 would be interfered with by the side wall of the room being worked. In such instance, the upright shaft may be moved inwardly relative to wheel supported frame 20, thereby enabling beam sectiOQ 4? 19 be swung laterally of frame 20 within a smaller space outside of the frame. It has also been found that because of the possible movement of the upright shaft 27 about pivot 24, the drill 138 can be located in different drilling positions, not possible with a fixed upright shaft.

In practice, the feed mechanism 126 is intended to feed the drill upwardly as the drilling operation proceeds. The distance the rock drill 138 may thus be raised is calculated to be the greatest possible when used in very close quarters where the head room is at a minimum. In such instance, the anchoring peg 132 will first be fully retracted as shown in Figure 9, and subsequently the beam second section 72 which, as shown in Figure 6 corresponds substantially to a walking beam, will be pivoted or tilted on the trunnions 74 to bring anchoring peg 132 in contact with the fioor of the mine. This pivotal movement is effected by positioning throttle valve 85 for admitting pressure fluid into the cylinders 64 through conduits 77 and 78 and exhausting it through conduits 76 and 79. When drilling in locations of greater head room, if the entire or maximum feed is to be obtained, it is first necessary to raise the drilling apparatus so that the complete feed travel of the drill will bring its front end near the face being drilled. To that end the drill carrying end of beam section 72 may be raised by tilting that section on the trunnions 74 by first positioning throttle valve 85 as shown in Figure 7, for admitting pressure fluid into cylinders 64 through conduits 76 and 79, and exhausting it through conduits 77 and 78. Once the drilling apparatus is at the desired height, and before starting the drilling operation, it is advisable to support the drill supporting end of beam section 72 by lowering the anchoring peg 132 into operative position with the floor of the mine.

As previously stated, the tubular casing 126 and consequently the drilling apparatus carried thereby through the foot piece 135, is carried by terminal 100 of the beam section 72 for pivotal movement on the axis of bolt 120, thereby enabling the angular drilling position of rock drill 138 to be corrected by first releasing locking shoe 107. Because of the friction brake incorporated in that connection, the drill 133 may be manually shifted to any desired positions, where it will temporarily remain without further manual assistance as it is locked by the shoe 106 preparatory to the drilling operation.

When the drill rig is moved on its wheels 21 to different drilling positions or different sections of the mine, the two beam sections are preferably located alongside of the wheel supported frame 20, with the beam sections folded one above the other as clearly shown in Figure 3.

While the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that variation in detail and form may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. A drill rig including a base frame, a beam carried by said frame including first and second beam sections, pivotally connecting means between the outer end of said first and the inner end of said second beam sections enabling movement therebetween on a vertical axis, a drilling apparatus carried by the outer end of said second beam section, and connecting means between the inner end of said first beam section and frame through which said first beam section is carried by said frame for pivotal movement relative thereto on two parallel substantially vertical axes.

2. A drill rig including a base frame, a beam carried by said frame including first and second beam sections, pivotally connecting means between the outer end of said first and the inner end of said second beam sections enabling movement therebetween on a vertical axis, a drilling apparatus carried by the outer end of said second beam section, and supporting connecting means on said frame for the inner end of said first beam section including an arm swingable on a vertical axis, and a member carrying said first beam section supported on said arm for rotation relative thereto on another vertical axis.

3. A drill rig including a base frame, a beam carried by said frame including first and second beam sections, pivotally connecting means between the outer end of said first and the inner end of said second beam sections enabling movement therebetween on a vertical axis, a drilling apparatus carried by the outer end of said second beam section, an arm resting on said frame swingable on a vertical axis, a hub member carried by said arm for swinging therewith and rotation relative thereto on a vertical axis, and supporting means between said first beam section and hub member enabling relative pivotal movement therebetween on a horizontal axis.

4-. A drill rig including a base frame, a drilling apparatus carrying beam extending substantially horizontally from said frame, connecting means between the inner end portion of said beam and frame including a hub member pivotally connected to said beam on parallel horizontal axes, a shaft extending vertically from said frame having said hub member rotatable thereon, an arm connected to said frame for swinging movement within a horizontal plane, said shaft carried by said arm for movement therewith, and means limiting swinging movement of said arm relative to said frame.

5. A drill rig including a base frame, a drilling apparatus carrying beam extending rearwardly and horizontally from said frame, connecting means between the inner end portion of said beam and frame including a hub member pivotally connected to said beam on parallel horizontal axes crosswise of said beam, an upright shaft on said frame having said hub member rotatable thereon, an arm on said frame having one end carrying said shaft and the other extending rearwardly of said frame, and a pivotal connection between said frame and other end of said arm enabling swinging movement of said shaft laterally of said frame.

6. A drill rig including a base frame, a beam carried by said frame including first and second beam sections, pivotally connecting means between the outer end of said first beam section and the inner end of said second beam section enabling movement therebetween on a vertical axis, a drilling apparatus carried by the outer end of said second beam section, and connecting means between the inner end of said first beam section and frame including a hub member pivotally connected to said inner end, a connecting arm having one end operatively supporting said hub member and the other end pivotally connected to said frame at a place longitudinally between the ends of said first beam section when said drilling apparatus is in an operative position.

7. A drill rig including a base frame, a drilling apparatus carrying beam extending substantially horizontally from said frame, connecting means between the inner end portion of said beam and frame including a hub member pivotally connected to said beam on parallel horizontal axes, a shaft extending vertically from said frame having said hub member rotatable thereon, said shaft being carried by one end of an horizontal arm having its other end connected to said frame for swinging movement on a vertical axis located longitudinally between the ends of said beam when said drilling apparatus is in an operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,374,590 Levin Apr. 12,1921 2,616,667 Dick Nov. 5, 1952 2,657,017 Curtis Oct. 27, 1953 2,670,931 Curtis Mar. 2, 1954 2,690,896 Bissell et a1 Oct. 5, 1954 

